1378776 (1) 九、發明說明 【發明所屬之技術領域】 本發明係關於一種混合飮料的機器。更明確地說，本 發明係關於一種機器，可以將正確量的冰塊與液體輸送至 一攪拌器的水壺內’以便進行後續的混合。 【先前技術】 B 用以將正確量的冰塊輸送至一攪拌器的水壺內，以便 進行後續與其他成份（例如酒、果汁、水等）之混合的機 器早已相當普遍，特別是在酒吧與餐廳內。這樣的機器特 別能用來製作冰涼或雪泥狀的飮料。 此種機器的一範例係揭示於美國專利第6194013號案 。在該裝置中，使用者藉由放置任意量的液體於一攪拌器 的水壺內，來混合一飮料，然後操作該機器，將冰塊分配 到水壺內，直到水壺已經承接了預定重量的冰塊爲止。然 φ 後，操作此攪拌器，以便混合此飲料。此系統的優點之一 在於每個飮料均可以與正確的冰塊需要量一致地混合。 然而，此種系統的一問題在於使用者必須能夠添加正 確量的液體到攪拌器的水壺內。經常，特別是在擁擠的酒 吧或餐廳內之環境當中，使用者急忙地槪估正確量的液體 而破壞了比例一致的飲料。由於通常最需要的液體就是水 ，所以最好能提供一種機器，可以將正確的水量分配至水 壺內。然而，到目前爲止，仍尙未發現具有此特點之機器 -5- (2) 1378776 【發明內容】 因此，本發明的一目的是要提供一種機器’可以將預 定的水量（以重量計算），分配至攪拌器的水壺內’以便 進行後續的混合。 本發明的另一目的是要提供一種機器’可以將預定的 冰塊量（以重量計算），分配至攪拌器的水壺內’以便進 行後續的混合。 本發明的另一目的是要提供一種機器，可以將水分配 至水壺內，而不會影響到正在進行的重量測量步驟。 本發明的另一目的是要提供一種機器，其具有一噴嘴 ，係藉由一冰塊滑道來攜帶，使液體能夠通過噴嘴而配送 ，且冰塊能通過滑道而配送。 本發明的另一目的是要提供一種新穎的方法，來製造 含液體與冰塊的飮料。 φ 本發明的上述與其他目的，以及超越現有習知技術的 優點’均可從以下伴隨附圖所作的詳細說明中淸楚看出。 一般來說，本發明的裝置係設置用以製造具有至少飮 料與冰塊的飲料。它包括一攪拌組件，該攪拌組件具有一 水壺與一冰塊分配組件。設置一滑道，以便將冰塊從該冰 塊分配組件運送至水壺。此滑道帶有一噴嘴，而該噴嘴可 與一液體源相通而提供液體至該水壺。 ~~攪拌器、 本發明製造液體與冰塊飮料的方法係使用 一水壺、一液體源及一冰塊源。此方法包含以下步驟，可 -6- (3) 1378776 以將液體從液體源運至水壺，直到預定重量的液體已經由 水壺承接爲止，且可以將冰塊從冰塊源運至水壺，直到預 定重量的冰塊已經由水壺承接爲止。 以下，將藉由附圖中的範例，來說明本發明的飮料製 造機及其方法之較佳實施例，此實施例並非用來侷限本發 明，且在不違背申請專利範圍所界定的範圍之情形下，仍 可以產生出許多修改與變化。 【實施方式】 具有本發明特點的一飮料製造機係以參數10來標示 ，且以美國專利第61 940 1 3號案所示的機種作爲參考，以 便使人更加淸楚明白本發明之敘述。簡單地說，飮料製造 機10基本上包含一冰塊刨除與分配單元，以參數n來標 示，及一飮料攪拌單元，以參數12來標示。一底座部13 支撐著一局部圓柱形的臺座1 4，用以支撐一冰塊貯藏箱 # 1 5，此冰塊貯藏箱是冰塊刨除與分配單元1 1的一部分。 可將一蓋子1 6容納在此冰塊貯藏箱1 5上。 攪拌單元12包括一由襯墊18所支撐的水壺17，此 襯墊係放置在底座部13所形成的一支架19上。水壺17 設有一習知的混合葉片（未顯示），可藉由一馬達（未顯 示）來驅動旋轉，此葉片係經由該襯墊18內所形成的一 驅動插口而連接到馬達上。 底座部13亦包括一控制鍵盤20，如同上述美國專利 桌6194013號案，此控制鍵盤可設有按鈕，以便提供使用 -7- (4) 1378776 者多種不同飲料的選擇。當選擇一特殊的飮料選項時，便 起動冰塊刨除單元11，使得冰塊貯藏箱15附近的一刀片 (未顯示）可以刨除冰塊，且將它經由一冰塊滑道21而 分配至水壺17。在支架19下方設置一稱重機構，係如同 上述美國專利第61 94 013號案，此稱重機構會將容納於水 壺17內的冰塊予以稱重，且當預定重量的冰塊已經容納 於水壺17內時，便關掉冰塊刨除單元11，其中該預定重 H 量係根據控制鍵盤20上所選擇的飮料選項而定。如圖5 所示，滑道21可以設有一唇緣22，在此唇緣上可以擱置 —防濺板23的一端。防濺板23因此可以防止水壺17內 的液體與冰塊濺出水壺17的頂端開口。防濺板23的另一 端可以在樞軸24的位置樞轉式地安裝至滑道21上，如此 —來，防濺板23可以來回擺動，以便移除水壺17。 如上所述，在先前技術中，使用者最好在添加冰塊到 水壺17之前（有時候是之後），將認爲需要的液體量注 ® 入水壺1 7內，來製作想要的飮料。根據本發明，至少一 飮料的正確量可以自動地通過滑道21而注入到水壺17內 。雖然，可以配送任何液體，但是大部分均當作是"水" ，這是由於水不僅是主要的飮料成分，而且也很容易取得 〇 從圖2到4可以淸楚看出一水噴嘴，一般以參數30 來標示。噴嘴30可以由任何適當塑膠材質來形成，且包 括一細長棒3 1 ’此細長棒3 1的一端形成有一夠構件3 2 ’1378776 (1) Description of the Invention [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a machine for mixing dips. More specifically, the present invention relates to a machine that delivers the correct amount of ice and liquid to a kettle in a blender for subsequent mixing. [Prior Art] B Machines for transporting the correct amount of ice into a kettle of a blender for subsequent mixing with other ingredients (such as wine, juice, water, etc.) have become quite common, especially in bars and Inside the restaurant. Such machines can be used to make cold or slush-like dips. An example of such a machine is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,194,013. In the device, the user mixes a dip by placing any amount of liquid in a kettle of a blender, and then operating the machine to dispense the ice into the kettle until the kettle has received a predetermined weight of ice. until. After φ, the agitator is operated to mix the beverage. One of the advantages of this system is that each dip can be mixed in line with the correct amount of ice required. However, one problem with such systems is that the user must be able to add the correct amount of liquid to the kettle of the blender. Often, especially in crowded bars or restaurants, users rush to estimate the correct amount of liquid and destroy a consistent proportion of beverages. Since the most commonly needed liquid is water, it is best to provide a machine that dispenses the correct amount of water into the jug. However, until now, a machine having this feature has not been found -5 - (2) 1378776 [Invention] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a machine that can calculate a predetermined amount of water (by weight). Dispense into the kettle of the blender for subsequent mixing. Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine that can dispense a predetermined amount of ice (by weight) into the kettle of the blender for subsequent mixing. Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine that can dispense water into a kettle without affecting the ongoing weight measurement step. Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine having a nozzle that is carried by an ice chute so that liquid can be dispensed through the nozzle and the ice can be dispensed through the chute. Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for making a dip containing liquid and ice. The above and other objects of the present invention, as well as advantages over the prior art, can be seen from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In general, the apparatus of the present invention is configured to produce a beverage having at least mash and ice. It includes a stirring assembly having a kettle and an ice dispensing assembly. A slide is provided to transport ice from the ice dispensing assembly to the kettle. The slide has a nozzle that is in communication with a source of liquid to provide liquid to the kettle. ~~Agitator, The method of making liquid and ice cubes of the present invention uses a kettle, a liquid source, and an ice source. The method comprises the following steps, -6-(3) 1378776 to transport the liquid from the liquid source to the kettle until the predetermined weight of liquid has been taken up by the kettle, and the ice cubes can be transported from the ice source to the kettle until predetermined The weight of the ice has been taken up by the kettle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the material manufacturing machine and method of the present invention will be described by way of examples in the accompanying drawings, which are not intended to limit the invention, and are not in the scope of the scope of the claims. In this case, many modifications and changes can still be made. [Embodiment] A tanning machine having the features of the present invention is indicated by the parameter 10 and is based on the model shown in the U.S. Patent No. 6,940,131, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Briefly, the tanning machine 10 basically comprises an ice shaving and dispensing unit, indicated by parameter n, and a dip stirring unit, designated by parameter 12. A base portion 13 supports a partially cylindrical pedestal 14 for supporting an ice storage bin #1 5 which is part of the ice shaving and dispensing unit 11. A lid 16 can be housed in the ice storage bin 15. The agitating unit 12 includes a kettle 17 supported by a gasket 18 which is placed on a bracket 19 formed by the base portion 13. The kettle 17 is provided with a conventional mixing blade (not shown) that can be rotated by a motor (not shown) that is coupled to the motor via a drive socket formed in the gasket 18. The base portion 13 also includes a control keypad 20, such as the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 6,194,013, which may be provided with buttons to provide a choice of a plurality of different beverages using -7-(4) 1378776. When a special dip option is selected, the ice shaving unit 11 is activated such that a blade (not shown) near the ice storage bin 15 can remove the ice and distribute it to the kettle via an ice chute 21. 17. A weighing mechanism is disposed under the bracket 19, as in the above-mentioned U.S. Patent No. 61 94 013, which weighs the ice contained in the kettle 17, and when the predetermined weight of ice has been accommodated When the kettle 17 is inside, the ice shaving unit 11 is turned off, wherein the predetermined weight H is determined according to the selected dip option on the control keyboard 20. As shown in Fig. 5, the slide 21 can be provided with a lip 22 on which the end of the splash guard 23 can be placed. The splash guard 23 thus prevents the liquid and ice in the kettle 17 from splashing out of the top opening of the kettle 17. The other end of the splash guard 23 can be pivotally mounted to the slide 21 at the position of the pivot 24 such that the splash guard 23 can swing back and forth to remove the kettle 17. As described above, in the prior art, it is preferable that the user fills in the desired amount of liquid into the kettle 17 before (and sometimes after) adding the ice to the kettle 17 to make the desired dip. According to the present invention, the correct amount of at least one of the dips can be automatically injected into the kettle 17 through the chute 21. Although it is possible to dispense any liquid, most of it is treated as "water", because water is not only the main ingredient, but also easy to obtain. From the 2nd to the 4th, you can see the water nozzle. , generally indicated by parameter 30. The nozzle 30 can be formed of any suitable plastic material and includes an elongated rod 3 1 '. One end of the elongated rod 31 is formed with a sufficient member 3 2 '
且在另一端上形成有一水入口及安裝塊體33。安裝塊體(D -8- (5) 1378776 33設有一孔34及一渠道35，其中該渠道35的一端可與 該孔34相通。塊體33亦包括兩相向的安裝突出部36，37 ，用以裝配至滑道21，這一點稍後會詳細說明。渠道35 的另一端係與一通道38(圖6)相通，此通道38係從渠 道35縱向延伸而整個通過細長棒31。爲了製造方便，通 道38顯示成在孔39處開啓通過鉤構件32，但是當組裝 時，通道38會被一栓塞40所關閉，如圖6所示。一噴嘴 B 開口 41在鉤構件32的區域以一斜角方式延伸通過細長棒 31，且與通道38相通。 噴嘴30係藉由滑道21來攜帶，這一點可以從圖6中 淸楚看出。因此，滑道21在其壁46內設有一開口 45。 噴嘴30的鉤構件32係容納在該壁46的底部周圍，且安 裝塊體33係藉由突出部36, 37卡住開口 45的邊緣而卡 入開口 4 5內。 安裝塊體33係以圖5與6所示之方式裝配至一水或 • 其他飮料的供應源上。一軟管或類似導管5 0可以與此水 供應源相通。與該水供應源的相通可以藉由與該導管5 〇 組合在一起的一習知的螺線管閥（未顯示）來起動或停止 。導管50係顯示成藉由一連接器52而連接到一肘部51 的分支。肘部51的另一分支則容納在噴嘴3〇的塊體33 之孔34內，且藉由一習知的裝配組件53而裝配於其中。 ⑧ 在操作此機器10時，使用者藉由按下控制鍵盤20上 的對應按鈕來選擇一特殊的飲料選項。假如該按鈕係被編 寫程式設計成製作含有水（或與軟管5 0相連的飮料）的 -9- (6) (6)1378776 飲料，則水會開始流出噴嘴開口 41，且會繼續流動，直 到預定重量的水容納於水壺17內爲止。此時，螺線管閥 就會關閉流向噴嘴30的水。要知道的是，由於噴嘴開口 41是以一斜角方式形成在細長棒31的一側，所以水不會 直接衝擊水壺17的底表面，因爲若是水直接衝擊水壺的 底表面的話，將會影響正在進行的重量測量步驟。而且， 如圖6所示，水受到引導而撞擊水壺1 7的一側或角落， 如此一來，可降低任何錯誤的重量讀數。雖然冰塊可能早 已供應至水壺1 7，最好是在正確水量已經運送至水壺1 7 之後，然後起動冰塊刨除單元，以便供應預定重量的冰塊 至水壺1 7。 因此，藉由上述結構與操作方式所組成之飮料混合機 ，足以實現本發明的目的並提升先前技術之功效。 【圖式簡單說明】 圖1是一立體圖，顯示具有本發明特點的一飮料製造 機。 圖2是一立體圖，顯示根據本發明在圖1的機器中所 使用的一水分配噴嘴； 圖3是此水分配噴嘴的另一立體圖； 圖4是此水分配噴嘴的另一立體圖； 圖5是一立體圖，顯示圖1的機器之冰塊滑道，其中 裝配有分配噴嘴之情形； 圖6是沿著圖5的線6 - 6所作之剖面圖，且槪略地 @ -10- (7) 1378776 顯示冰塊滑道下方的一攪拌器之水壺的一部分。 【主要元件符號說明】 I 〇 :飮料製造機 II :冰塊刨除與分配單元 1 2 :飮料攪拌單元 13 :底座部And at the other end, a water inlet and a mounting block 33 are formed. The mounting block (D -8-(5) 1378776 33 is provided with a hole 34 and a channel 35, wherein one end of the channel 35 can communicate with the hole 34. The block 33 also includes two opposite mounting protrusions 36, 37, For assembly to the slide 21, this will be described in more detail later. The other end of the channel 35 is in communication with a channel 38 (Fig. 6) which extends longitudinally from the channel 35 and passes through the elongated rod 31. Conveniently, the passage 38 is shown open through the hook member 32 at the aperture 39, but when assembled, the passage 38 will be closed by a plug 40, as shown in Figure 6. A nozzle B opening 41 is in the region of the hook member 32. The beveled manner extends through the elongated rod 31 and communicates with the passage 38. The nozzle 30 is carried by the slide 21, as can be seen in Figure 6. Thus, the slide 21 is provided in its wall 46. The opening 45. The hook member 32 of the nozzle 30 is housed around the bottom of the wall 46, and the mounting block 33 is caught in the opening 45 by the projections 36, 37 engaging the edge of the opening 45. The mounting block 33 Assembled to a supply of water or other tanning materials in the manner shown in Figures 5 and 6. A soft Or a similar conduit 50 can be in communication with the water supply. The communication with the water supply can be initiated or stopped by a conventional solenoid valve (not shown) that is combined with the conduit 5 。. The 50 series is shown as being connected to a branch of an elbow 51 by a connector 52. The other branch of the elbow 51 is received in the aperture 34 of the block 33 of the nozzle 3, and by a conventional assembly The component 53 is assembled therein. 8 When operating the machine 10, the user selects a particular beverage option by pressing a corresponding button on the control keyboard 20. If the button is programmed to be made containing water (or The -9-(6) (6) 1378776 beverage, which is connected to the hose 50, will begin to flow out of the nozzle opening 41 and will continue to flow until the predetermined weight of water is contained in the kettle 17. The solenoid valve closes the water flowing to the nozzle 30. It is to be understood that since the nozzle opening 41 is formed on one side of the elongated rod 31 at an oblique angle, water does not directly impinge on the bottom surface of the kettle 17. Because if water directly hits the bottom surface of the kettle In this case, the ongoing weight measurement step will be affected. Also, as shown in Figure 6, the water is guided to strike one side or corner of the kettle 17. This reduces any erroneous weight readings. Although ice cubes may It has already been supplied to the kettle 17, preferably after the correct amount of water has been delivered to the kettle 1 7 and then the ice cube removal unit is started to supply the predetermined weight of ice to the kettle 17. Thus, by the above structure and operation The composition of the tanning mixer is sufficient to achieve the object of the present invention and to enhance the efficacy of the prior art. [Schematic Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a tanning machine having the features of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a water dispensing nozzle used in the machine of Figure 1 in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is another perspective view of the water dispensing nozzle; Figure 4 is another perspective view of the water dispensing nozzle; Figure 5 Is a perspective view showing the ice slide of the machine of Fig. 1 in which the dispensing nozzle is assembled; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and slightly @ -10- (7) 1378776 A part of a kettle that shows an agitator below the ice chute. [Description of main component symbols] I 〇 : Material manufacturing machine II : Ice cube removal and distribution unit 1 2 : Dip mixing unit 13 : Base part
1 5 :冰塊貯藏箱 1 6 :蓋子 1 7 :水壺 1 8 :襯墊 19 :支架 2 0 :控制鍵盤 21 :滑道 φ 22 :唇緣 23 :防濺板 2 4 ·樞軸 3 0 :水噴嘴 3 1 :細長棒 3 2 :鉤構件 33 :安裝塊體 34 :孔 ⑧ 3 5 :渠道 -11 - (8)1378776 36，37 :安裝突出部 38 :通道 39 :孔 40 :栓塞 4 1 :噴嘴開口 45 :開口 46 :壁1 5 : Ice storage box 1 6 : Cover 1 7 : Kettle 1 8 : Pad 19 : Bracket 2 0 : Control keyboard 21 : Slide φ 22 : Lip 23 : Splash plate 2 4 · Pivot 3 0 : Water nozzle 3 1 : elongated rod 3 2 : hook member 33 : mounting block 34 : hole 8 3 5 : channel -11 - (8) 1378776 36, 37 : mounting projection 38 : passage 39 : hole 40 : plug 4 1 : nozzle opening 45: opening 46: wall
50 :導管 51 :肘部 52 :連接器 5 3 :裝配組件50: conduit 51: elbow 52: connector 5 3 : assembly assembly
⑧ -12 -8 -12 -